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Food importers directed to use specific ‘qualifier declaration’
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Friday, 21 August, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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India’s apex food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has directed food importers and custom brokers to use a specific ‘qualifier declaration’ when filing import documents for non-food grade items. The move is designed to streamline port-of-entry clearances and prevent unnecessary administrative delays.
According to a notification issued by the authority, importers and customs brokers must now declare the qualifier tag ‘NFG’ (Non-Food Grade) within the Customs ICEGATE portal to clearly indicate items intended for non-food end use.
Applying this code within the Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade (SWIFT) system will ensure correct Partner Government Agency (PGA) routing, effectively stopping non-applicable Bills of Entry from being directed to FSSAI for clearance.
The decision addresses a growing operational bottleneck at major sea and air ports.
Manvesh Kumar, director, Trade and International Cooperation FSSAI, noted that authorities observed a high volume of import filings for non-food items being routed to the food regulator. This issue was particularly widespread among goods with dual-use potential, items categorised under the same Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code that can serve both food and non-food industrial purposes.
“Accordingly, importers and custom brokers are advised to use the qualifier ‘NFG’ while filing Bills of Entry under the single window system for appropriate PGA routing or non-routing, as applicable,” reads FSSAI notification.
The regulatory body added that this directive aligns with a Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) circular issued on April 22, earlier this year, regarding the mandatory declaration of non-food grade items.
Meanwhile, experts say that by establishing clear digital tagging, the government aims to reduce port congestion, eliminate redundant physical inspections, and accelerate legitimate trade flows across Indian borders.
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